Golden Glory for ACT apprentice chefs

Sep 27, 2015

Two young chefs from the ACT were just crowned the National winners of the 2015 Nestlé Golden Chefs Hat Award in Sydney.

Amanda Polsen, 24, an apprentice chef at the Hyatt Hotel in Canberra and Georgia Harrison, 22, an apprentice chef at the National Press Club beat teams of young chefs from around the country to take out the top title.

Team ACT battled it out in the kitchen delivering some impressive dishes, proving to be in a league of their own with two silver medals – and in a competition first, a flawless 100 point gold with distinction medal winning dessert, earning them a once-in-a-lifetime food safari experience to South Africa.

Celebrating 50 years in 2015, Australia’s longest running culinary competition for young chefs saw the finalists step up to the plate in a new format at Fine Food Australia, where they cooked off live in front of show attendees in purpose built kitchens.
On competing in Australia’s longest running culinary competition for young chefs, National Winner, Georgia said, “It was great to connect with other chefs and we’re absolutely thrilled to have won.” “To cook live in front of the public was really challenging but an amazing experience.”

During the national final, chefs had to create a three course meal in four hours that needed to impress the judging panel which included international chefs as well as chefs from Nestlé and the Australian Culinary Foundation.

Australian Culinary Foundation Competition Director, Deb Foreman, said this year’s final was one of the best the competition had seen.

“From an unprecedented number of entrants to the highest award medal ever, this year’s competition has set a new benchmark.”